{{Short description|1970 murders in West Bengal, India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox civilian attack | title = Sainbari Murder | image = | caption = | location = Bardhaman, West Bengal, India | date = 17 March 1970 | victims = Pranab Kumar Sain<br />Malay Kumar Sain <br />Jitendranath Roy }}
The '''Sainbari incident''' refers to a violent political clash that occurred on 17 March 1970 in Bardhaman, West Bengal, India, during a period of intense political conflict between the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)). The incident involved multiple deaths and became a subject of prolonged political controversy in the state.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=3&id=196321&usrsess=1 |title=The Statesman<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227202612/http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=3&id=196321&usrsess=1 |archive-date=2007-12-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Background == The late 1960s and early 1970s in West Bengal were marked by significant political instability, including the fall of coalition governments and increasing clashes between rival political groups.
On 16 March 1970, the Second United Front government led by Chief Minister Ajoy Mukherjee was dismissed. In response, left parties including CPI(M) called for a statewide bandh (general strike) on 17 March.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=ভাদুড়ি |first=অর্ক |date=2021-06-18 |title=সিপিএমের সাঁইবাড়ি সংকট: আত্মসমর্পণের পর ইতিহাসের সামনে তোতলামি |url=https://nagorik.net/politics/state-politics/left-congress-alliance-past-and-future/ |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=Nagorik.net |language=en-US}}</ref>
The Sain family in Bardhaman was a zamindar family, and a strong supporter of the Congress.<ref name=":0" /> They were also allegedly involved in acts of aggression against CPI(M) supporters.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |title=সম্পাদক সমীপেষু: শুধুই কি সাঁইবাড়ি? |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/editorial/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor-cpm-and-congress-fought-the-election-in-a-coalition-even-after-history-of-sainbari/cid/1288958 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210704091934/https://www.anandabazar.com/editorial/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor-cpm-and-congress-fought-the-election-in-a-coalition-even-after-history-of-sainbari/cid/1288958 |archive-date=2021-07-04 |access-date=2026-03-17}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite news |title=‘সাঁইবাড়ির ভূতের’ চাপে অস্থির সিপিএম-কংগ্রেস |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/ghost-of-sainbari-returns-to-haunt-cpm-congress/cid/1286838 |access-date=2026-03-17}}</ref>
==Incident== On 17 March 1970, a procession associated with the bandh took place in Bardhaman town. According to accounts: the procession was initially peaceful. It was attacked with bombs and pipe guns by armed individuals allegedly associated with the Congress. The violence at the Sain residence occurred as part of a retaliatory clash rather than a premeditated attack.<ref name=":1" /> This claim was substantiated by the Mukherjee Commission report.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Durga Shibaprasad Roy Another v. Union Of India Others, Calcutta High Court, Judgment, Law, casemine.com |url=https://www.casemine.com/judgement/in/56ea8314607dba36fd0b7a1e |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=casemine.com |language=en}}</ref>
Reports alleged that as part of the retaliatory clash, a large group of CPI(M) supporters attacked the residence of the Sain family, leading to the deaths of Malay Sain and Pranab Sain, along with another individual Jitendranath Roy.<ref name="Indian Express">{{Cite web |date=9 April 2016 |title=Irony deals a brutal hand on this family — in CPM-Congress alliance, 46 yrs after Sainbai massacre |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/elections-2016/india/india-news-india/west-bengal-elections-2016-cpim-congress-1970-sainbai-massacre/}}</ref>
== Legal proceedings == A criminal case (commonly referred to as the ''Sainbari case'') was initiated based on a First Information Report (FIR) as Burdwan Police Station Case No. 50 of 1970 filed on the day of the incident. Charges were framed against multiple accused persons, including political figures like CPI(M) leader Benoy Konar.<ref name=":2" /> The State Govt appointed Retd. Judge Tarapada Mukherjee as Commission of Enquiry (known as the Mukherjee Commission) on 28th April 1970. It submitted its report to the State Govt on 27th July, 1970 mentioning that the local police and administration were unable to control the crowds and the situation.<ref name=":2" />
In 1978, Judge R.K. Kar acquitted all the 83 people accused in the case.<ref name=":2" />
==Aftermath== thumb|280x280px|Memorial plaque of martyrs at Ahladipur Village, Bardhaman Congress party leadership including Indira Gandhi had visited the house in the heart of Bardhaman town after the incident.<ref name=Statesman>{{cite web | url =http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=22&id=285903&usrsess=1 | title = Sainbari survivors despair of getting justice| publisher = The Statesman, 5 May 2009 | accessdate = 2009-08-10}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
In 1971, Bhabadish Roy, a lawyer representing the accused in the Sainbari case, was killed; some accounts attribute the killing to individuals associated with the Congress party.<ref name=":1" /> On 12 June 1972, another episode of violence occurred in Ahladipur village in the Khandaghosh area. According to reports, a group associated with Congress led by Nabakumar Sain (another brother of the Sain family) attacked the village, resulting in the deaths of four individuals - Shibu Roy, Ansar Mirza, Syed Mirza and Sharat Dolui and the destruction of several houses.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /> In 2011 and the newly elected Trinamool government formed a commission to probe the incident under Retd. Justice Arunabha Basu. As per reports, the Arunabha Basu Commission had not submitted any report till date.<ref>{{Cite news |last=দত্ত |first=সৌমেন |title=ভোট-প্রচার, পাল্টা প্রচারে ফের সাঁইবাড়ি |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/lok-sabha-election-2019-even-after-50-years-sainbari-incident-is-still-the-hot-topic-1.967147 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230216151942/https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/lok-sabha-election-2019-even-after-50-years-sainbari-incident-is-still-the-hot-topic-1.967147 |archive-date=2023-02-16 |access-date=2026-03-17 |language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/its-politics-of-vendetta-buddhadeb/article2351526.ece|title=It's politics of vendetta: Buddhadeb|first=Ananya|last=Dutta|newspaper=The Hindu |date=13 August 2011|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=‘সিপিএম অতীত’ বলে সাঁইবাড়ি ক্ষত উসকে দিল কংগ্রেস, এবার বামেদের সঙ্গে সম্মুখসমরে হাত শিবির? |url=https://www.sangbadpratidin.in/bengal/west-bengal-assembly-election-congress-reminds-cpm-of-sainbari-before-wb-election/pid/1127473/ |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=sangbadpratidin |language=bn}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Purba Bardhaman topics}} Category:Communist terrorist incidents in India Category:Communist Party of India (Marxist) Category:Political repression Category:Crime in West Bengal Category:1970s in West Bengal Category:1970 murders in India Category:Purba Bardhaman district